How to Pray Effectively and Get Results Now

If you're new here, you may want to subscribe to my RSS feed. Thanks for visiting!

Jesus still loves you

“Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.” Hebrews 4:16 (KJV) The essence of prayer is to get results, to have your prayers answered. Many people pray but get no results because they do not know how to pray effectively. Our Father really wants to answer ALL our prayers but we need to know how to effectively pray and receive these answers.

Prayer is a channel of communication with God and for you to effectively communicate with Him, you need to identify who He is to you. If you see God as a task master you will relate and talk to Him as a hard boss. But if you see Him as a father, you will relate and talk to Him as a child would talk to his father. It is very important to identify your level of relationship with God because this will affect your state of mind and mode of approach in prayers.

In addition to knowing your relationship with God, you need to know and practice the following steps on how to pray effectively:

1. Believe that God will answer you.

Doubting God’s will to answer you will produce no result no matter how long you pray and cry to Him. God says in 3 John 2 that He wishes above all things that we prosper and be health, even as our souls prosper. So, you must believe that He will answer you to get results.

2. You need to know and meditate on what God says about that issue you want to pray about.

This will strengthen your faith in God and His willingness to answer you. The Word of God concerning that issue will become very real to you. Also, it will drive away any form of fear, doubt or unbelief that will try to stop you from receiving your answers.

3. Get rid of hindrances to answered prayer

There is need for you to deal with anything the devil can use to accuse you before God. These include unforgiveness, bitterness, un-confessed sin, etc. God is a just judge and if you harbour any of such things, you will not receive your answer. In Mathew 6:12, 14, 15, Jesus encourages us to forgive others so we can receive same from God.

4. Start prayers with thanksgiving and praise

Psalm 100:4 tells us that we are to enter God’s presence with thanksgiving and praise. Don’t be in hurry to start making your request known to God. First appreciate God for who He is and for His goodness unto you. In the Lord’s Prayer (Mathew 6:9-13), Jesus showed us an example of how we must first praise and glorify God before asking for anything from Him.

God wants you to remind Him of His words, not how bad the devil has worked against you or your loved one. 1 John 5:14-15 tells us that when we pray according to God’s will, He hears us and whatsoever we ask He will do for us. Therefore, God answers according to what He said in the bible.

6. Pray for God’s kingdom and for all men

We were admonished both by Jesus (Mathew 6:10) and Paul (1 Timothy 2:1-3) to always pray first for God’s will to be done on earth and also for all men especially our leaders. Paul says that it is good and acceptable in the sight of our father, God.

7. After making your request known, believe that you have received

As Mark 11:24 says, when you have made your requests known unto God, you must believe that God has already answered you. Believing you have received before you see the result shows that you actually have faith in God and His ability to give you the results you desire. This is a crucial step on how to pray effectively and get results.

8. End with thanksgiving and expect a physical manifestation of your answer.

Thanking God at the end shows that you believe it is settled and done. And Proverbs 24:14 says that your expectation shall not be cut off. You will receive what you expect. So, expect a manifestation of what you have asked of God.

9. Refuse to doubt

Many times after prayers, the enemy will come to test your faith. He will send thoughts of unbelief to make you doubt whether God will do as you have requested of Him. At this point you need to steadfastly resist the devil’s suggestions for as long as he persists. The bible says that he will flee when we resist him, James 4:7

10. Declare your victory

Say as often as you can and to as many people who will listen as possible, that you believe that God has answered your prayers. Mark 11:23 says that you shall have what you say. Declaring your victory gets God’s attention and puts the angels to work in order to get your results established.

Many people get frustrated and discouraged when they pray and get no results. And this is not the will of God for us. Following the above steps on how to pray effectively will surely ensure you get results. Our father wants to answer our prayers. Even when the answer seems delayed, God will surely bring it to pass. Therefore, next time you get talking to God, practice the steps and you will have the answers knocking on your door.

This is a nice little step by step class on praying effectively but there are a few very important things missing.

For example, it would have been good if the need to “be strong in the Lord and the power of His might and wear the whole armour of God” had been brought in there somewhere as an essential precursor for “praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit.” Ephesians 6:10 – 19. We do need to fully acknowledge the spiritual battle that is often involved in prayer that gets results.

A couple of other things missing are 1) praying in the Spirit in the sense of looking to the Spirit for His intercession and guidance in our prayer petitions (Rom.8:26-2) and 2) praying with real earnest fervency (James 5:16b). We do need to recognise the essential role of the Holy Spirit in our prayers becoming effective prayers.

Praying in the Name of Jesus also hasn’t found it’s way into the steps yet.

It’s a good start though and should help many on the way to seeing more of their prayers answered.

Although, I enjoyed reading this post, I am concerned with the following statement in the post in step 1:

“God says in 3 John 2 that He wishes above all things that we prosper and be health, even as our souls prosper.”

This is not correct. God did not “say” that in 3 John 2. The Apostle John wrote this short epistle (letter) of inspiration and support to Gaius, an exemplary follower (maybe even minister) of the Christian church. The words in 3 John 2 denote John’s satisfaction with Gaius’ “walk”. Other Christians of the church spoke of Gaius and his obedience to the fundamentals of the faith (see verse 3, “For I rejoiced greatly when brethren came and testified of the truth that is in you, just as you walk in the truth.”)

This epistle was John’s letter specifically written to Gaius to keep him lifted up and to let him know that his faithfulness and obedience were appreciated by the Apostle John.

I pray your continued strength in the Word of God. Thank you for your post on prayer…we need it.

Yes, the letter was written to Gaius by Apostle John. Also note that 2 timothy 3:16 tells us that “All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:” So, like other epistles in the New Testament which are also letters to people, I believe 3 John 2 is God speaking to us.

The whole bible is referred to as the word of God so he is not wrong to say God says he wishes above all things for his people to prosper and be in health.That is God’s will for his people.Whether it is Paul that said it , it was written by the inspiration of the holy spirit, the second person in the trinity.So he is in order please.

Hello Ngozi,
I just wanted to thank you for your post, it was exactly what I was looking for. I started following the steps you had laid out for prayer…and I had 2 specific prayers answered this week! Thank you!
God Bless and keep on teaching!

Hello Tiffany.
I am very happy to read your testimony. I give God praise.
It is really encouraging to know that the post helped you to get your answers.
I pray that God will answer the rest of your prayer requests speedily in Jesus name.

Thanx for sharing! Let ore dew of Divine blessings from Heaven settle on your life irresistibly in Christ Jesus. I am going into a prayer that must be answered. I have been well encouraged by two of your posts on this blog. I’m using this opp to ask all here to unite with me on this intention: i want to have a living relationship with the Living God characterized by a clarity of communication with Him. Then, let me share one scripture that helps me stay more focused @ prayer: Psalm 94:9 “… he who planted the ear, can’t he hear? He who made the eye, can’t he see?” it gives me logic strong enough to be certain God has hearing ability & consciousness, and so hears me. Thank you.

Good piece, encouraging and helpful to any that will really want to pray. The Spirit will always fill in any gap that is missing none can ever be complete and none is incomplete when the Spirit is leading any one in the place of prayer. God bless your input.

I was really blessed by your post,and also I want to add a little to what has already been.
FAITH
Hebrews 11 vs 1,Now faith is the substance of thing hoped for,the evidence of things not seen. In other to have 100% effectiveness in prayers,faith is required inrespective of the sence knowledge which always wants to see results before believing that his prayers where answered. 2 Corinthians 5 vs 7 for we work by faith and not by sight. faith cometh by hearing and hearing by the word of GOD (Romans 10 vs 17) and as we can see in the bible that the word of the lord is sharper than any two aged sword piersing even to the dividing asonder of the soul and spirit,and of the joint and marrow and is a diserner of the thoughts and intent of the hearth.
Note: Your faith makes your hearth get focused,Proverb 4 vs 23 Keep your hearth with all deligence for out of if flows the issues of life,remembering that GOD is a rewarder of them that deligently seek him, deligency is one of the attribute of humbleness for he resists the proud and giveth grace to the humble. In otherwords FIATH,DELIGENCY,HUMBLENESS works a lot when It comes to prayers

I give thanks to the Almighty God for working through people of valor like you, and thank you for the insightful, inspiring and spiritual words from God’s own spirit and footsteps. May God surely bless and replenish your source. Amen

Thanks for sharing, it is a start on how to pray effectively to get results and as we continue to pray we will be guided by the Holy Spirit. I pray that God will continue to bless you with spiritual wisdom and understanding. God Bless!

Thank you Ngozi for these steps to effective prayers which i have always adhered to every time i pray.
The challenge for me is delay in prayer answers, do have any idea of steps to take to quicken prayer answers.
Thank you and God bless you abundantly.

Chexy, Hebrews 10:36 says that we have need of patience, so that after we done the will of God, we might obtain the promise.
Have patience and faith in God, and trust that all things will work out for your good. Delay is not denial. If you believe, know that God is working it out for you, to manifest it at the right time.
Receive grace to wait on God. Though it tarry, wait for it, for it must surely come to pass (Habakkuk 2:1-3).

At this time too, engage a praise-full life. Praise draws God into our affairs (Psalm 22:3, Psalm 67:5-7).

Quite simple and straight forward approach suitable for upcoming Christians like me.Am really blessed and I pray that the lord will continue to give you much revelation in His word so that you could help people like me.

This is wonderful. I Thank God for directing me to you and this website when seeking For answers. I pray for my family all the time, now I will be praying the proper way with spiritual guidance and wisdom. I have faith, trust and a better understanding. I will be praying effectively and preparing my prayers for my family and my self. Thank you so much, I look forward to the future postings and spiritual guidance. Blessings

God bless u for dis post. People like me have been lukin for someone like u who will inspire dem positively. I pray dat God in his infinite goodness shower u with wisdom to understand his word ad help people like me. Good post.

I am indeed blessed by this article. Though it was written a long time ago, but the words of God never expires, they are new everyday. I pray for more of God’s grace upon you and may you continue to wax stronger in the Lord. I will come next week by faith to testify to answered prayers in Jesus name

Thank u and may God bless you i feel my spirit bng shifted to another level.I have bn doubting so mch I felt hopeless but now I feel a steer in my life evr since I read this.may God monumentally bless yu.

I thank God for ur life, and for making u a blessing to this my generation. “to the only God our Savior be glory, majesty, power and authority through Jesus Christ our Lord, before all ages, now and forever more!
my sister, truly, u re blessed. I pray: more grace, more anointing in Jesus name. ur garment will ever remain clean and heaven at last.

I’m a Living testimony to ur write up. I was in HIV/AIDS, seminar class in Askira/Uba LGA of Borno state. When we were about to go on break, the teacher gave us one strategic question and he said after break, whoever gets the answer will receive a price. I have never heard that particular question in my entire life. I did a simple pray: Lord I want to answer this question. I told my classmates, I will answer this question, when we’re back. I kept on telling them while we were eating. They even thought, I knew the answer. After the break, we went back to the class, and up-to that moment, I didn’t know what the answer was. One of us raised his hand and he didn’t get the answer and all of them were looking at me. I put up my hand and said some words, and to tell how God works, that was the answer. That is how I know, confessing ur victory after prayer with hope, really moves God to answer quickly.

well i have been praying for my daughter to be healed, I would ask any prayer warriors out there to pray also for this if you feel inclined. These steps are very helpful. I have known God inhabits praise for some years but have not issued this in my prayers, thanks.

Glory to God, having read your explanations above, I can say God has used you mightily to bring out hidden secrets in the word of God. May God keep revealing to you more as you share with us.God bless you.